The Nation : Burcham Put on Dialysis

Doctors placed artificial heart recipient Jack Burcham on dialysis, a spokeswoman for Humana Hospital Audubon in Louisville, Ky., said. Burcham, 62, was to remain connected to the machine for four to six hours, and implant surgeon William C. DeVries was to review the results before deciding if he requires long-term use of the machine, spokeswoman Donna Hazle said. Burcham’s kidneys have not been working properly since before his April 14 implant operation and DeVries now believes “dialysis would help Burcham’s overall condition so that he could be weaned off the respirator more quickly,” Hazle said.